Sexuality

• Which sociologists believe that sexual identities are still distinct?

  • Plummer (gay subcultures)
  • McIntosh (culturally different)
  • Connell (gays are inferior)
  • Taylor (gay culture)
  • Weeks (process of coming out)
• What did Weeks say about gay people?

  gay people still go through a process of coming out and identifying as gay
• Weeks explained that gay people were still distinct as?


  they go through a process of coming out because it is not a norm
• How does Weeks theory support the idea gay people are stigmatised against?

  gay peoples process of coming out can come with a fear of how the people around them may react
• Heterosexuals do not have to identify themselves as it is the norm. But gay people do and often go through a process of coming out as to do so. Because it is not expected / the norm which can give gay people anxieties as they may not be accepted (stigmatised against)
• Taylor found that gay identities were distinct because of gay culture, specifically he found that what was important?


  music (in gay clubs, drag shows etc)
• Taylor also expressed that it was important this distinct gay culture existed as?


  Gay culture provided a safe place for people to express gender and their sexualities
• Who argued that being gay makes you less of a man/ subordinate?

  Connell
• Connell talked about how heterosexuality was a key part of hegemonic masculinities which meant that gay men were subordinate.
• Why did Connell (distinct & stigmatised) say being gay was inferior?


  as it goes against the patriarchal ideology of sexuality
• McIntosh said that when western people come out they adopt what?


  culturally different behaviours
• Why did McIntosh argue western people adopt culturally different behaviours?


  because it is expected (S.F.P)
• Plummer added onto McIntosh's theory saying what?


  gay people who accept their label often seek out gays and gay subcultures in which they behave stereotypically gay
• Which sociologists argue against the idea homosexual identities are significant?

  • Giddens (relativity allows a spectrum)
  • Smart (homo relationships are ordinary)
  • Stacey (secularisation)
  • Heaphy (variation of gay identities)
  • Roseniel (society isn't heteronormative)
  • UK Policies (gay marriage 2014 and adoption 2012)
• Why did Stacey argue that homosexuals were now accepted in society?


  because of secularisation
• Why does Heaphy believe that there are different variations of homosexuals?


  because the way gays construct their identities are based on how social, economic and cultural differences effect their freedom to construct it
• Why does Roseniel think society is no longer heteronormative?

  same-sex relationships have effectively challenged the traditional dominant heterosexual norms and values
• What did Smart say about homosexual relationships?


  he said they were ordinary
• Why did Smart say homo relationships are “ordinary”?


  same-sex couples have the same norms & values as hetero couples and are organised the same way (eg shared domestic roles and monogamy)
• Giddens stated people now experiment with their sexuality and gender making the identity a spectrum (not clear-cut gay or not)
• Why does Giddens believe people are now more willing to experiment with gender and sexuality?


  due to reflexivity
• What does the term Giddens used, reflexivity, mean?


  The idea that people can choice their identities out from a range of different identities available in society
• Which sociologists argued that sexual identities were stigmatised against?

  • Weeks (being gay isn't the norm)
  • Connell (gays are subordinate)
  • Rich (compulsory heterosexuality)
  • Goffman (gay people hide their identities)
• 49% of people are not out at their workplace
• What does Rich say about gay women?


  Lesbians are forced into being straight - “compulsory heterosexuality”
• What theory is Rich apart of?

  Feminism
• Rich mentions how lesbians don't have the same culture as gay men or a sense of identity
• Why are gay women forced to be straight according to Rich?

  they are portrayed negatively as they don't serve men (or are sexualised to serve men)
• Goffman describes sexual identities as “concealed identities” - what does this mean?


  identities which are not visible to people
• Goffman said that because sexual identities are "concealed identities" they are able to hide it from others
• Why may people hide their identities according to Goffman?


  because homosexual identities are “socially devalued with negative stereotypes and beliefs attached”
• Which sociologists argued that sexual identities were no longer stigmatised against?

  • Stacey (secularisation)
  • Giddens (contraception)
  • Roseniel (society isn't heteronormative)
  • UK Policies (gay marriage 2014)
  • Giddens (reflexivity)
• Giddens said that the widespread of contraception gave people what?


  sexual liberation
• Giddens claimed that because contraception gave people the freedom to make sex not just about reproduction what reduced?


  reduced the homo - hetero divide and diminished the belief that being homosexual is an unnatural identity